BRITISH LAND SPEEDSAIL ASSOCIATION (BLSA)
CONSTITUTION
1. TITLE:
The association was founded in 1986 and shall be called “The British Land Speedsailing Association”, abbreviated to BLSA, hereafter to be referred to as ‘the BLSA’.
The BLSA is governed by its constitution. The bodies of the association are the Director Committee [DC] and the General Assembly [GA]. The constitution and the resolutions of the GA are applicable to all members.
The public interests and welfare of the BLSA state that the organisation is non-profit making. Funds and resources are only allowed to be spent on purposes defined by the constitution. No person is entitled to payments that are not connected to activities in the sport or the mission of the association.
The calendar year is from the first day of January to the last day of December.
The official address of the association will be that of the association Secretary for the duration of their elected period. The language of the association is English.
2. OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the association is to develop, teach, organise and control Blokart Sailing and Land Speedsailing in all forms and practises such as competition, leisure, schools, or any other activity involving Blokarts or stand up wind powered craft.
The association is recognised as the National Governing Body for the sport of Blokart Sailing and Land Speedsailing in UK.
Specific Goals of ‘the BLSA’:
2.1. To foster and promote the sports of Blokart Sailing and Speedsailing at all levels, providing opportunities for recreation and competition, throughout the United Kingdom.
2.2. Represent the participants of the sport at a National level.
2.3. Act as an advisory body on all matters appertaining to Blokart Sailing and Speedsailing, in the United Kingdom including safety, training and licensing.
2.4. Act as an advisory body on the organisation and regulation of the sports in the United Kingdom.
2.5. To encourage and assist pilots to represent the United Kingdom in International competition.
The BLSA will endeavor to:
2.6. Follow legal guidelines including Health and Safety and insurance requirements
2.7. Promote friendship and fair play nationally and internationally.
2.8. Protect the environment where the sports take place
3. MEMBERSHIP:
3.1. Membership of ‘the BLSA’ shall be open to any person, regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation or ability, who completes a membership application form and pays the relevant subscription/joining fee.
3.2. Full Membership (including Insurance) is restricted to sailors whose primary sport is either Blokart Sailing or Land Speedsailing.
3.3. The membership fee is influenced by the insurance premium (determined by the previous year’s membership numbers and the market) therefore can only be set once this has been received.
3.4. Any increase in the membership fee other than the insurance premium should be proposed and determined at the Annual General Meeting of ‘the BLSA’.
3.5. Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December annually.
3.6. There may be different classes of membership available, including but not limited to:
3.6.1. Full Membership (includes insurance)
3.6.2. Family Membership (includes insurance)
3.6.3. Associate Membership (for non participating members, excludes insurance)
3.7. Full and Family Members of ‘the BLSA’ shall be entitled to one vote each at General Meetings.
3.8. Associate Members are not entitled to vote at General Meetings.
3.9. Members shall comply with constitution, policies, guidelines, resolutions and bye-laws of ‘the BLSA’ are conditions of membership.
3.10. A member may withdraw from membership of the ‘the BLSA’ by written notice to the Secretary. Membership shall not be transferable in any event and shallcease immediately on death or dissolution or on the failure of the member to complyor to continue to comply with any condition of membership set out in the constitution orthe Membership rules.
3.11.Any member whose membership fee is more than 3 months in arrears shall be deemed to have resigned their membership.
3.12. Any grouping of bodies and/or individuals in membership of the association for the purposes of conducting Blokart sailing, Speedsailing or related activities in the name of ‘the BLSA’ must liaise with the Director Committee so that the Committee may be satisfied that such activities conform with the spirit and purpose of this Constitution and with decisions taken by the DC.
4. DIRECTOR COMMITTEE [DC]:
The affairs of the BLSA shall be controlled by a Director Committee [DC] comprising of Executive Officers and Non-Executive Officers elected from, and by, the membership. All positions on the DC are held by volunteers.
4.1. Executive Officers are the minimum that are required to govern and control the affairs of ‘the BLSA’. They shall be:
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson
Secretary (inc membership)
Treasurer
4.2. Non - Executive Officer positions can be determined and allocated by the DC and are typically but not restricted to:
National Coach / Safety Officer
Race Officer
Child Protection / Welfare Officer
Press and Public Relations Officer
Event Coordinator
4.3. Roles and Responsibilities will be regularly updated and displayed on ‘the BLSA’ website. Any legal delegation by the Chairperson must be specifically defined
4.4. The DC shall meet at regular intervals throughout the year as required.
4.4.1. 21 days notice shall be given for physical attendance meetings of the DC. Shorter notice may be required for conference / net-meeting.
4.4.2. A DC meeting will require a majority of members present to form a quorum at which voting can take place (e.g. 5 out 9).
4.4.3. Any DC Member may participate in a DC Meeting by way of video conferencing or conference telephone or similar equipment which allows every person participating to hear and speak to one another throughout such meeting. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall accordingly be counted in the quorum and be entitled to vote. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting is.
4.5. If, for any reason, a vacancy shall occur, the DC may co-opt a Full or Family member to fill such a vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting. Should this vacancy be Chairperson then the Vice Chairperson shall become temporary Chairperson and serve until the next Annual General Meeting.
4.6. The duties of the Director Committee shall be:
4.6.1. To control the affairs of ‘the BLSA’ on behalf of it’s members.
4.6.2. To keep accurate accounts of the finances of ‘the BLSA’, in accordance with UK regulations, through the Treasurer. These should be available for reasonable inspection by members and should be audited before every Annual General Meeting. The BLSA shall maintain a bank current account and the following Officers shall be authorised to sign acheques: two from the Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary.
4.6.3. To co-opt additional members on to the DC as necessary. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to a vote unless agreed by the permanent members of the DC.
4.6.4. Small working parties may be convened for specific areas of development within the BLSA and will promptly report back to the DC.
4.6.5. To formulate and promote association Rules / Guidelines / Policy / Byelaws relating to the sports of Blokart sailing and Speedsailing to members of ‘the BLSA’. Rules / Guidelines / Policy / Byelaws can be approved by the DC but require endorsement at the next meeting of the GA.
4.6.6. To make decisions on the basis of a simple majority vote. In the case of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
4.6.7. The DC may invite to its meetings representatives of such bodies as it deems appropriate.
4.6.8. The DC will delegate representation on other bodies to an appropriate association member (this may be a member of the DC or the GA)
4.6.9. The DC shall decide which bodies the Association shall affiliate.
5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
5.1. All Officers shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of ‘the BLSA’, from, and by, the Members of the ‘the BLSA’.
5.2. Proxy voting is allowed by e-mail or letter to the Chairperson in advance of the Annual General Meeting. Timescales for voting will be determined by the DC.
5.3. All Officers are elected for a period of one year, but may be re-elected to the same office or another office the following year.
5.4. Nomination of candidates for election of Officers shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least 30 days in advance of the Annual General Meeting date. Nominations can only be made by Full Members and must be seconded by another Full Member.
6. GENERAL MEETINGS:
6.1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held once a year.
6.2. A minimum of 30 days notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to the GA by posting the notice on the association website and e-mail (or in writing if no e-mail address has been supplied).
6.3. Members must advise the Secretary or Chairperson in writing of any business to be moved at the Annual General Meeting at least 30 days before a meeting.
6.4. The Secretary shall circulate or give notice of the agenda for the meeting to Members not less than 21 Days before the meeting
6.5. The business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
6.5.1. Confirm the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting and any General Meetings held since the last Annual General Meeting.
6.5.2. Receive the audited accounts for the year from the Treasurer.
6.5.3. Receive the annual report of the Committee from the Secretary.
6.5.4. Elect an auditor
6.5.5. Elect the Executive and Non – Executive Officers.
6.5.6. Review Annual subscription rates and if possible (potentially excluding insurance premium as may not be known at the time of the meeting) agree them for the forthcoming year.
6.5.7. Transact such other business received in writing by the Secretary from Members 30 days prior to the meeting and included on the agenda.
(NOTE: The agenda should provide for "Accepted Other Business" advised to chairman at any time before the meeting and deemed of sufficient urgency or importance by the chairman to require adding to the meeting, but Members should be encouraged to refer other items to the General Committee and give the required notice for important Annual General Meeting business).
6.6. All General Meetings other than Annual General Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.
6.7. Extraordinary General Meetings may be convened by the Director Committee or on receipt by the Secretary of a request in writing from not less than 5% of theFull Members of the BLSA. At least 14 days’ notice of the meeting shall be given.
6.8. A resolution can be made to stop the activities of the Director Committee at an AGM or EGM. In this case a new Director Committee will be elected within the next two months. The outgoing chairman is responsible for organising the election as soon as possible.
6.9. At all General Meetings, the chair will be taken by the Chairperson or, in their absence, by the Vice-Chairman orby a Full Member elected by the majority of those attending the meeting.
6.10. Decisions made at a General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of votes from those Full Members attending the meeting and any Proxy votes cast (if applicable). In the event of equal votes, the Chairperson shall be entitled to an additional casting vote.
6.11. A quorum for a General Meeting shall be 10% of the Full Membership, or 15 Full Members whichever is the least, AND 3 members of the Director Committee including at least 1 Executive Officer of ‘the BLSA’ from the Chairperson; Secretary and Treasurer.
6.12. The General Committee may decide, in advance of a general meeting, to call a postal / electronic ballot in respect of a resolution which would otherwise be put to the vote at the general meeting. If there is to be a postal / electronic ballot, the details of the resolution and voting papers shall be sent at such time as the DC shall prescribe to the members. Voting papers must be returned by such time as the DC shall prescribe and shall be counted by such person or persons as the DC shall decide. The result of the postal / electronic ballot will be declared at the general meeting at which it would otherwise have been put to the vote.
6.13. A notice may be served by ‘the BLSA’ upon any member, either personally, by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter or using electronic communications to their registered membership address.
6.14. Any notice, if served by post, shall be deemed to have been served on the day following that on which the letter containing the same is put into the post, and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice was properly addressed and put into the post as a prepaid letter. Any notice, if contained in an electronic communication shall be deemed to have been served at the expiration of 48 hours after the time it was sent. Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given.
6.15. A member present at any meeting of the General Assembly shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and of the purposes for which it was called.
7. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION:
7.1. Any proposed alterations to the Constitution may only be considered at an Annual or Extraordinary General Meeting convened with the required written notice of the proposal. Any alteration or amendment must be proposed by a Full Member of the the BLSA and seconded by another Full Member. Such alterations shall be passed if supported by not less than two-thirds of those Full Members present at the meeting, assuming that a quorum has been achieved.
8. DISSOLUTION:
8.1. If, at any General Meeting of ‘the BLSA’, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the association, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of ‘the BLSA’ to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.
8.2. If, at that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the Full Members present at the meeting, the Director Committee shall thereupon, or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution, proceed to realise the assets of ‘the BLSA’ and discharge all debts and liabilities of ‘the BLSA’.
8.3. After discharging all debts and liabilities of ‘the BLSA’, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Full Members of ‘the BLSA’, but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of ‘the BLSA’.
Document Control Sheet
All changes to this document must be approved by the BLSA Director Committee and recorded here
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Date
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Change
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Author
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17/09/09
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Created document from info supplied in the original Constitution and from draft documents created between Rob Jewel, Rosie Tribe and Nick Dodge.
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Nick Dodge
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